AC/VC, Mamalode, and The Missoula Startup Community"I am a huge fan of Brad Feld (from the Foundry Group in Boulder) and am very excited to be featured on his blog today (with links to the article from Lisa Stone of BlogHer and the Missoula Independent article by Jessica Mayrer.)"
Elke Govertsen
Publisher
Mamalode
http://www.mamalode.com
http://www.elkegovertsen.com
[email protected]
read my writing http://www.makeitmissoula.com/category/community/blogs/elke-blog/
(406)531-0535
(email is typically the fastest way to reach me)

Montana: The Good And Bad of Doing Business in Big Sky CountryFirst, here are some of the best things about doing business in Montana. The "last best place" is a truly great place to live. On any given weekend, you can find PFL employees enjoying the spectacular scenery and recreational opportunities in the great outdoors with friends and family.

Community Development Block Grant nixed for SmartLam projectThis week, everyone was surprised to hear that all of the money still available for the economic development program was being transferred to a community development program where it can be used for infrastructure, water and sewer projects and fire damage repairs.

Why We Need Entrepreneurs in Government AgenciesThe idea is to infuse many of the same operational and creative solutions-oriented principles found in startups and small businesses into the inner workings of government, and it's a good one.

Healthy Montana Kids succeeds quietlyHealthy Montana Kids http://hmk.mt.gov/ , which expanded government health insurance for children in low- and moderate-income families, has extended coverage to 21,300 additional kids since its inception almost three years ago.

New Valley angel fund to begin investing in startup businesses "The Treasure Valley Angel Fund is the kind of jobs-and opportunity-creating machine that will help accelerate Idaho's economic growth through the skill and experience of proven business leaders and the creative energy of entrepreneurs," Gov. Butch Otter said in a news release.

USDA Announces Federal Resource Guide to Assist Rural Communities USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced the publication of a guide outlining programs the federal government has available to support rural communities as they promote economic development and enhance the quality of life for rural residents.

Can Anyone Catch Khan Academy? The Fate of the U in the YouTube EraTraditional American universities are suddenly running scared of the Internet, and for good reason. They successfully weathered the rise of online, open-enrollment degree programs like the University of Phoenix, but now they're confronting a much more terrifying enemy: YouTube.

Ravalli County economic development director, Julie Foster headed to LaosFor a little more than two weeks in August, Foster and 19 other American women will be presented with the opportunity to learn firsthand about the challenges women in Southeast Asia face daily, as part of a cultural exchange hosted by University of Montana's Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center.

How Smart Leaders Translate Strategy into ExecutionMany successful execution officers have said that, if they had it all to do over again, the one thing they would do differently would be to align the performance reward and recognition systems with strategy execution earlier in the process.

Tax Benefits of Donating Private StockDonations of private stock enable investors, founders and employees to support charitable causes and contribute to the community while receiving simultaneous benefits in the form of substantial cash savings from reduced taxes as well as bypassing capital gains taxes.

Bitter Root RC&D receives three national awardsThe Bitter Root RC&D was established in 1965, the first in the state, to help Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties promote conscientious development of the area's natural and human resources while maintaining a high quality of life.